About Me

This blog is my blissful journal of happiness. It’s about everything I adore and people I love. Thanks for stopping by. If you would like to write me, please feel free to email me: diana.mieczan@hotmail.comHave a jolly good day!

Speaking of all things delicious, do you own any of Amelia Freer's cookbooks? A few weeks ago I finished reading her Nourish and Glow: 10-Day Plan and I'm still under its spell. So much so, that I've been making quite a few of her recipes and one of our favourites from her blog is this quick summer vegetable frittata that takes only a couple of minutes to whip you, it's super versatile and it's an easy way to up your seasonal veggie intake without really thinking about it. So, if you need a little inspiration for tonight's dinner, try this.

A couple of weeks ago I tried Erin's go-to morning smoothie after the recipe conveniently arrived to my mailbox as part of her weekly newsletter (btw: you should subscribe, it's a gem!), and I've been hooked on it ever since! It's one of those treats that make those hectic early mornings actually bearable. I usually have it on those mornings that I would rather stay in bed. It helps, I promise!

Okay, today let's talk tips, but not those common sense ones - nooo! Let's talk about those totally random things that best friends tell you after a couple of glasses of wine and when they really feel comfortable with you. Those little nifty things that are equally genius and bizarre, but they make life easier on so many levels!

So here are 12 of the most random tips I've learned over the years from friends, my mom, the world-wide-web and my next door 93-year-old neighbor:

- To make lips look naturally pink like you just ate freshly picked berries, put on red lipstick, wipe it off, and then apply clear gloss.

- To fake clear skin when you notice a pimple, apply tea tree oil as soon as you spot it.

- When using perfume, don't forget to spritz your ankles and behind your knees because scent rises. Try it and you will see what I mean.

- Speaking of perfume, wrap an empty bottle of your favorite perfume in a tea towel and tuck it into your underwear drawer - it will make your delicates smell divine every time you put them on.

- Use white wine to remove red wine stains.

- After a shower, use your hairdryer to de-mist your bathroom mirror in a jiffy.

- Use shaving cream and a washcloth to remove liquid makeup from shirt collars.

- Use hairspray to remove a lipstick stain.

- While on the subject, spray tights with super cheap hairspray to avoid holes and runs.

- V-neck sweaters and tees give the illusion of a longer torso, in case you have an issue with it.

- Never put a shirt on immediately after ironing, it will cause new wrinkles to form. Instead, let it sit for five minutes to set the press.

Maggie - a writer/historianThe Fish - a Japanese Taiko playerKirsten - a floristRalph - a cobblerGreene - a butcherSanwal - a photographer and writerNicholas - a typesetterMartha - a pianist
Perry - a bakerStone - an auto mechanic

What do you do? I spend my days, sitting by a screen, writing, editing and researching. You?

Fascinated by the work people do with their hands, Sanwal Deen decided to create a series featuring a bird’s eye view of individuals as they complete different tasks related to their careers. Usually, most parts of our work are seen as mundane, but Sanwal's take on it shows those everyday tasks from a totally new perspective and I love the understated brilliance of it. You?

A year or so ago, I read something that Alyssa wrote on her blog that totally transformed my relationship with clothes and made me realize that less is definitely more. This is what she wrote:

'When we first got married, I was surprised that my French husband would wear the same outfit whenever we went out. He'd put on a denim button-up shirt, black fitted slacks, and black leather boots. Every. Single. Time. This was shocking for an American who was taught to buy a new outfit for every occasion, but the art of repetition is ingrained in the French. Just think about Carine Roitfeld and her winning combination of a silk blouse, pencil skirt, and sky-high heels. Or try to imagine Emmanuelle Alt in anything but skinny jeans (I know, it’s hard). The French wear these uniforms because they know it’s flattering and makes them look good. They also wear it with confidence and have zero regrets about repeating an outfit. And when you think about it, why would anyone ever apologize for looking good?'
Spot on, isn't it? Ever since then, instead of buying clothes, I started creating uniforms that actually look great and make me feel myself. The result is that I am totally unapologetic about wearing the same black dress to all the dinner parties I've been to this summer. It looked and felt great and that is what really matters!

In the words of Sali Hughes, 'red is so much more than a colour. It's a statement of intent, a demand to be acknowledged, a sign of simultaneous individuality and sisterly solidarity. It does not give a fuck when we women so often give far, far too many...'

Yes, red besides being a true statement, it is also said to be the go-to fall colour and although I'm the first one to admit that wearing red head-to-toe intimidates me, I kind-of-fancy trying it out with a snazzy casual autumn dress. What do you think? Would you be brave enough?

Although the weather is still summery, I bet you can already feel the shift in the air. It's that cooler morning and evening breeze that signals a slow but steady change. But before we wave a final goodbye to the sunshine, how about enjoying a few more warm cocktail nights on the rooftop or the balcony?

Cheers to the weekend! What are your plans for the next two days? Since August is almost over, tonight Balazs and I are planning to hop over to our friends for a little garden party in hopes to relish the last bits of summer. My friend just messaged me that we'll be making those sea dogs. Have you tried that recipe yet? Wishing everyone an amazing August weekend, I'll see you back here on Monday morning, but before you start weekending, don't miss out on those great links below.

Sometimes we just need a reminder to chill out and cut ourselves some slack, because the world won't stop and keeping up is not always the best option. So here is some sound advice from Emily Lemer aka the 77 year-old goddess, who knows a thing or two about a well-lived-life:

'Stop worrying so much. As long as you have enough money to pay your rent and buy food, don’t worry about anything. I have some young friends that work 14-hour days. Working too much is really the wrong way to do it. What is success? Financial success? Does that mean that you have to have a million dollars in your bank by the time you’re 30? I don’t think that’s necessary. Don’t do it. There’s a balance of being comfortable, of having enough money to live on and then just having a good time. You’ve got to balance. You’ve got to find time to play. You gotta have a little life, a little fun. Find your soul.'

Now, instead of doing that thing you need to tonight, simply get home, open a bottle of wine, and treat your husband and yourself to a rare night in, just the two of you...